Lane Kiffin has never been one to wait around for the rules to catch up. Now, as the SEC draws a line in the sand over former NFL players returning to college, the LSU coach finds himself squarely in the middle of the talent acquisition fight ahead of Saturday night's opener against Clemson. Kiffin has already defended his pursuit of Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, two former Ole Miss players trying to make the unusual jump back from the NFL to Baton Rouge.
The question now is simple: How much does Kiffin care about the potential fallout from the SEC -- and is LSU really prepared to push forward with both players despite the league's latest restrictions? With Thursday's court hearing looming, the stakes are rising by the hour. "I probably am in the minority of how I make decisions and probably not what most coaches do," Kiffin said during Monday's press conference previewing Clemson.
"I feel like my decisions should be in the best interest of the players in this room. And not for my reputation and how the decisions play in the national media or other fanbases. "I've never been that way, but those players and the people that hire me know I'm constantly trying to do the best things for them." Kiffin previously told ESPN on Monday the SEC's rule "does not prohibit players from practicing at the school, it prohibits them from being added to the final 105 roster, which has to be turned in on Friday." Kiffin said if the court order is reversed that LSU would "absoultely" following the SEC's eligibility rules.
"All we're waiting for is clarity this week from the SEC, which they can't give final clarity until Thursday's ruling," Kiffin said. "We are waiting for final clearance and guidelines from the SEC. I have been in communication daily with the SEC to make sure we're complying with the SEC rules." Kiffin defended the decision to recruit the athletes earlier this month, stating other programs will likely follow suit.
While he doesn't have NFL ties, Junior Tuihalamaka, a former Notre Dame defensive end, also joined LSU this month after a Louisiana judge granted him a fifth season. "A lot of athletes filed these injuctions around the country and their attorneys. felt they should get the year back due to the NCAA not handling it properly," Kiffin said. "Those kids have a court order saying they can play and now they're being restricted by (the conference) saying there's not.
There's no intent, nor was there ever was to play somebody we're not supposed to (against an) SEC rule. "We're waiting to see Thursday. We're focused on Clemson and spending our time on that all week.
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